The D-N-R expert who runs the roadside pheasant survey says numbers are down, but he still sees a good season ahead. Wildlife biologist Todd Bogenschutz (Boyg-en-shuts) says the overall number of birds dropped 17 percent from last year.
He says the biggest drop was in northeast and southeast Iowa. They saw an average of 23 birds on their survey routes, but that fell to 19 birds in northeast Iowa.
He says the other areas should offset the drops.
The bird survey last year averaged 27 birds a route, which Bogenschutz says was the highest count in 20 years, so the drop down to 23 isn’t that much in the big picture. Bogenschutz says the numbers will probably impact out-of-state hunters the most.
The 101st Iowa pheasant season gets underway in October.
